American Indian Tribal Directory

The population of the United States was counted as 308,745,538 – a 9.7% increase from the 2000 census. As of this most current US Census, there were reported to be over 4 Million American Indian and Alaskan Natives of common and some uncommon Federal, State and Non Recognized Tribes, Bands, Clans or Groups within the United States.

What is an American Indian

American Indians in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as intact political communities. The terms used to refer to Native Americans are controversial; according to a 1995 US Census Bureau set of home interviews, most of the respondents with an expressed preference refer to themselves as American Indians or Indians. More>>

North American Tribal Regions Map

In the United States, the Indian tribe is a fundamental unit of sovereign tribal government, and the constitution grants to the U.S. Congress the right to interact with tribes. More specifically, the Supreme Court of the United States in United States v. Sandoval (231 US. 28 1913) warned, "it is not... that Congress may bring a community or body of people within range of this power by arbitrarily calling them an Indian tribe, but only that in respect of distinctly Indian communities the questions whether, to what extent, and for what time they shall be recognized and dealt with as dependent tribes". Federal tribal recognition grants to tribes the right to self-government, as well as certain benefits.

The recognition process is largely controlled by the United States federal agency the Bureau of Indian Affairs, in consultation with federally recognized tribes.

Popular Articles

Find Real American Indian JewelryOne of the most popular gemstones used in American Indian Jewelry is turquoise. This bluish green mineral found in the southwest of the United States is considered by many tribes to be sacred.

The Hopi, Navajo and Zuni and some other Southwest Tribes are best known for their Authentic Hand Crafted and sometimes hard to find American Indian Jewelry.

Establishing Your American Indian Ancestry Some people want to become enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe. Others want to verify a family tradition (belief, fact or fiction, passed from generation to generation) that they descended from an American Indian, either in their distant or near past. While others might want just to learn more about from whom and where they came. More>>

A Beginner’s Genealogy Lesson Using family group sheets and a pedigree chart, write down what you know. Try to keep your records in an orderly fashion, so you can locate them in the future. Make a file or notebook for each family name. Whatever works for you. More>>

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Definition of American Indian

American Indians in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as intact political communities. The terms used to refer to Native Americans are controversial; according to a 1995 US Census Bureau set of home interviews, most of the respondents with an expressed preference refer to themselves as American Indians or Indians.